With the holidays quickly approaching, there’s no doubt that countless Americans across the nation are making traveling plans for whatever holiday they happen to celebrate. While not everyone travels during these times, the winter months do account for the biggest traveling days of the year. Sadly, the combination of holiday celebrations and countless cars on the road can prove dangerous. This is why it’s so essential for holiday travelers to know what they’re up against.

Facts on Holiday Travel

Whether just going out to see the family or heading up north to get pictures of snow-covered fields, individuals who will be traveling should first know the statistics related to holiday travel. These little tidbits of information alone can make a holiday traveler aware of the care they need to take.

Most Dangerous Travel Days: The most dangerous day to travel will vary greatly depending on what year is looked into. During many years, the deadliest day on the road during the year is New Year’s Day, but this isn’t always the case. In 2008, for instance, Thanksgiving topped the charts as the deadliest day. The main lesson is this: the holidays present significant risks while traveling.

Specific Dangers: There are various dangers on the road during the holidays. Obviously, highways are more congested, but this isn’t the most significant risk.

On average, about 45 individuals die every day during the holiday season in traffic collisions, and sadly, Thanksgiving holds the title of having the most accidents related to drunk driving. This makes alcohol one of the most significant risk factors during holiday travel.

The Cost of Travel: The cost of traveling will obviously vary depending on where a person visits, but when considered as a whole, American travelers spend substantial amounts of money. In fact, recent statistics have shown that American citizens spend about $72 billion during the holiday season just to visit family.

Busiest Travel Days: In a perfect world, knowing the busiest travel days would allow a person to stay off the road. Unfortunately, the holidays don’t often allow this. When looking at the numbers, though, Christmas week is usually the biggest traveling week of the year. In 2011, though, the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving was the busiest travel day of the year.

Keeping the Holidays Special

The aforementioned statistics make it obvious that certain precautions should be taken to ensure safety and peace of mind during the holiday season. Luckily, there are a few things that every holiday traveler can do to keep the holidays bright.

Travel Early: It would be helpful to a person if they could get an early start on holiday travel. Instead of heading out on the day before Thanksgiving, for instance, an individual can take that Tuesday off as well and minimize the traffic that they run into.

Don’t Drink and Drive: As mentioned, drunk driving is a deadly risk factor when out on the road. Even if a person isn’t in an accident, however, they can still run into problems. A DUI charge can follow a person around forever, so it’s imperative for these individuals to find an attorney to increase their chances of beating the charge. This is especially important during the holidays, though. A driver from South Carolina who gets arrested in Pennsylvania, for instance, will often have to attend court outside of their home state to get everything settled. For anyone involved in an accident or DUI incident it is imperative to contact representation, whether they are a Columbia car accident attorney or a DUI lawyer from Vermont.

Carry Emergency Gear: Winter roads are often dangerous, so being prepared is essential. Always carry flashlights, extra blankets, easily accessible food, a cell phone and cash just in case the car breaks down or another emergency arises.

The holidays are a special time of the year when friends and family come together to remember exactly why they care about each other so much. Unfortunately, the statistics related to holiday traffic make it obvious that traveling can be difficult.

Luckily, there are ways of making life easier during these times, and for those who can manage, following the aforementioned tips can go a long way. Regardless of whether a person celebrates the holidays themselves or not, staying safe on the road will make it a jolly time of the year for all.

Author and single mom, Molly Pearce shares this post in support of concerned parents who may be traveling with kids in winter weather conditions this holiday season. You can search the phrase Columbia car accident attorney online, to learn more about road safety and what to do in the event of a winter weather accident.